Vehicle spring



Reissued May l, 1923.,

UNITED STATES Re. 15,586 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK V. COOKE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T KARL B. GODDARD, 0F

DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE SPRING.

Original No. 1,344,792; dated June 29, 1920, Serial No. 326,445 filed September 26, 1919. Application for I l I l reissue filed November 30, 1921. Serial No. 518,989.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK V. Coons, Who am a citizen of the United States. residing at Detroit, county of Vayne. State of Michigan. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Springs, and declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description ofthc same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to-make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vehicle springs and has for its object to provide an improved spring in which the resilient force is applied advantageously and a compact and convenientconstruction provided.

I secure this object in the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a vehicle having a spring apparatus embodying my invention secured thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-A of a is a transverse bar of the vehicle body or chassis. a represents a U-shaped extension from the cross bar a, the open portion being downward. This is at the center of the body. a are bolts spaced from each other and extending parallel to each other between the two branches of the U-shaped extension (1 a. is a plate intermediate of the branches of the U-shaped part and parallel thereto.

d is the vehicle axle. This is hollowed out at the center as shown at d to make room for the U-shaped extension 0.

b is a leaf spring approximately straight from end to end extending between one of the branches of the U-shaped piece a and the'center plate a and having one end pivoted to the lower ends of a dependin swinging link 6 The'other end is pivoted at e to a pin extending laterally from the axle near one end thereof. 0 is a second spring entirely similar to the spring 6 pivoted at e and extending laterally to the I other end' of the axle d and extending through the U-shaped piece a between the plate a and the other branch of the U- shaped part and similarly pivoted to the lower end of a depending swinging link a. The springs b and c are loosely embraced by the pins a which in connection with the U-shaped piece form a clamp for securing said springs and constraining their relative longitudinal movement within said forked member. each spring being free to move longitudinally within said forked member relative thereof.

\Vhile it is preferable to secure both of the upper ends of the springs b and c to swinging links, as shown, the apparatus will operate to perform its function if only one end of a spring is so pivoted or if. one or both of the upper ends of the springs are allowed to slide through a socket, as is done with reference to cantaliver constructions of the rear springs.

The above-described construction secures three points of resilient constraint to the movement of the body and great freedom of spring action.

The spring is shown connected to a front axle, in which case the lower ends would be secured near the center of gravity of the steering knuckle.

The upper bolt a forms a pivotal support at the center and the springs are secured so as to provide an angular freedom of movement, or pivotal action, at each end. I use the word pivotal as co-extensive with its functional implication.

Claims:

1. The combination of a vehicle body, an

axle, a spring pivoted to one side ofthe body and to the end of the axle farthest from said side, a second spring pivoted to the other side of the body and t0 the other end of said axle, a forked member depending from said body adapted to embrace said springs in such a manner as to permit movement of the springs longitudinally, but to.

restrain movement laterally and vertically within said forked member, said forked member adapted to form an upper fulcrum support for said springs. a

2. The combination of a vehicle body, an axle, a spring. pivoted to one side of the body and. tothe end of the axle farthest from said side, a second spring pivoted to the other side of the body and to the other end of said axle, a forked member depending from the body adapted to embrace the intermediate portions of said springs so as to form a fulcrum therefor, and so embracing sa1d springs as to permit relative movementxofitherbody and springs longitudinally of .the springs but to prevent lateral movement of the s rings.

3. The com ination of a vehicle body, an axle, a spring pivoted to one side of the body and to the end of the axle farthest from said side, a second spring pivoted at the other side of the body and to the other end of the axle, a forked member depending from the body in such av manner as to embrace said springs and prevent lateral distortion thereof, pins carried transversely of said forked member above and below said springs embracing said springs in such a manner as to restrain the vertical movement of said springs Within said forked member butto permit the longitudinal movement therein.

4. The combination of a vehicle body, an axle, a spring pivoted to one side of the body and to the end of the axle farthest -from said side, a second spring pivoted at vertical movement of said springs within said forked member but permitting the longitudinal movement of said springs therein.

5. The combination of awehicle body, an axle, a spring pivoted to one side of the body and to the end of the axle farthest from said side, a second spring pivoted to the other side of the body and to the other end of said axle, a rigid body-supporting member carried by the body and bearing upon each of said springs intermediate its ends in such a manner as to permit individ ual longitudinal movement of each spring thereover.

6. The combination of a vehicle body, and

body and pivoted to the end of the axle farthest from said side, a second spring shackled to the other side of the body and ivoted to the other end of said axle, rigid 0d supporting means. bearing on each 0 said '60 ax'lefa spring shackled to one side of the springs intermediate its ends so the body load will be carried thereby and in such a manner as to permit longitudinal movement of each spring relative said means.

7. In a resilient suspension for a vehicle comprising an axle and a load supporting member above the axle, in combination,

springs connected to the ends of the axle and to the respectively opposite sides of the loadsupporting member'and crossing between the'axle and the load supporting member; rigid body supporting means bearing on said sprin s at their crossing point and so constructed and arranged as to permit longitudinal movement of the springs thereover.

8. The combination of a vehicle body, an

axle, a spring pivoted to one side of the body and to the end of the axle farthest from said side, a second spring pivoted to the other side of the body and to the other end of said axle, a stationary fulcrum member carried by the body to bear on said springs at their crossing point so each spring may travel individually longitudinally thereover.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

FRANK v. COOKE. a 8. 

